TRANSCRIPT
Growing up, one of my dad’s favorite songs was called This World Is Not My Home, and he would go around the house singing, “This world is not my home. I’m just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”
And more than 20 years after my dad truly went home, I can still hear him singing those words. It was in those early years that I began to learn this world has little to offer, and what it does promise is temporary and elusive.
But I also remember wrestling with questions like, “How do I reconcile that God created this world and placed me in it with the idea that this is not my home? If this world isn’t my home, what responsibility do I have to other people? What responsibility do I have to this place? If this isn’t my home, then how should I live while I am here?”
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This year, we’re going to study the firsthand experiences of the Israelites who, because of their sin, found themselves passing through a place that God said was not their home. They went into an actual exile, meaning they were forced to leave the homes they had and start all over in a new country and under a new ruler. They would need to find new places to live and new ways to feed themselves. They were going to be dependent on others. In fact, their entire identity as a nation would be at risk. Exile would be new for God’s people, and God knew that.
So God sent a message through the prophet Jeremiah to all the people, the elders, the priests, the prophets, and everyone else, telling them how to live while they were in exile. Those instructions are recorded in Jeremiah chapter 29, verses 5 through 9.
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.
Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there. Do not decrease.
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’
Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says. ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them’, declares the Lord.”
Wow. Does anything on that list surprise you? Israelite, you are going into exile for your sin and rebellion. I’m sending you to a place that is not your home.
But while you are there, build your houses. Get married and increase in number. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city in which you are living.
Pray for the city. Because when it prospers, you also will prosper. In other words, make the cities where you live better because you live there.
But don’t get caught up in the deception of the city. Don’t be taken in by false prophets and the false dreams they encourage you to have. Don’t get caught up in the way they worship or even begin to embrace the way they think.
Don’t withdraw from it as if it is completely evil. Instead, establish yourselves and your families and serve your city. Pray for your city and seek the peace and prosperity of the city in which you live.
God was telling the Israelites, while you are in exile, build your lives. But build with purpose. And this year, we will study men and women who did just that.
Watch for those who were shining examples of obedience as they settled in and served their cities and prayed for their cities and remained faithful to God even under threat of persecution. Take note to how many Israelites were such a blessing to their city that they were raised up into the highest levels of civil service. Watch how God’s presence remained with them as they remained faithful to Him despite the opposition they faced.
And pay attention to how God used their obedience to build their lives for His purposes and for the good of His people. This year, through each account, we will see God’s extraordinary presence with them in the face of great opposition and persecution. We will see their lives are not that different from ours.
God tells them how to live as they enter exile. And when the time comes to return to Israel, those respected Israelites who invested in the peace and prosperity of their cities were granted favor to return to Israel with everything they needed to do God’s work. The Lord gave them everything they needed to do the work they were called to do.
Aren’t we grateful that any time God moves the heart of His people to do His work, He also supplies everything they need? It’s a powerful lesson to consider. How they lived while they were in exile was going to matter when it was time to go home.
Here we are in the year 2025, more than two millennium later, and we share some similarities with the Israelite exiles.
We know this is His world, and this is where He has placed us. But that doesn’t mean it’s our home. This is where we are living for a temporary season.
Believers in Jesus Christ live as passersby, enjoying the reality of the promises God made through Ezekiel. We have a new heart and a new spirit empowering us in our daily lives. We live now as children of God, waiting for the new heavens and the new earth.
And God has given us His whole counsel of Scripture to help us know how to build our lives with purpose while we wait.
And His instructions to us aren’t that different from what He told the Israelites. We also build our houses and make our livelihoods so we can have our daily provision. We are also to increase in number and pray for our cities and seek the peace and prosperity of the cities in which we live.
And while we wait for the home Jesus is preparing for us, we are to build our lives with purpose now.
Other Videos from Hollie Roberts
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I feel so blessed to be studying God s Word. With people like you our dear Hoollie
That was so beautiful I am so encouraged Love you Sis
PTL for Bsf and Wordgo especially Hollie and all Team members and Volunteers. True to God’s Word and challenging questions to keep us in path of Righteousness for His Name sake.
God’s Special Spiritual Blessings and Favour for All of you and Hollie’s leadership.
Hello Hollie,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND HELPFUL INFORMATION. I FIND THIS STUDY PLAN IS SO PROFOUND FOR THIS YEAR AT BSF 2025 IS A GIFT FROM GOD. THE SIMILARITIES OF THE ISREALITES AND TODAY’S CHALLENGES FOR THE PEOPLE ARE REAL AND AT RISK. ALSO, OUR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND GROWTH IS NECESSARY FOR EVERYBODY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN GOD HAS FOR US.
I enjoy Hollie lectures.
Thank you for encouraging me to live my life with a purpose. Wonderful lecture.
Thank you for serving God, am encouraged to serve too.
Amazing God.
Quite thought provoking and inspirational with equal measure
Great concise summary, and so true! Thank you for sharing this!
These videos are such a blessing & they reveal so much of GOD’S LOVE & FAITHFULNESS IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES HERE & NOW!!
This is a wise and wonderful message from the LORD. thank you
Great words to challenge us.
This is the whole truth. I’m pleased but at the same time I have decided to live with a purpose to be serious about the way I am living my life. May God help me.to live to please him and share as I learn.
This is a truth that we, as believers, often forget or choose not to think about. This World is not our Home, and one day we will be with Him for eternity. I pray that, through this study, I will be more convicted than ever to live my life with purpose. His purpose for my life.
Thank you Hollie for the reminder that we are just laborers in this field (world) working for God, and heaven is our home.
Thank you Hollie, for the reminder that we are just laborers in this field (world) and that heaven is our home.
Shalom-shalom and Hallelujah!
Abba blezz BSF all the more, for reaching out and making an impact.. a change,
in our GOD-GIVEN world!
Thank you Hollie for your wisdom and insight about this study on Exile and Return.
I’m encouraged to be about my father’s business . The revelation of what’s going on in the world now is differently know difference than in the days of Ezekiel.
Amazing!!
This really helped me to apply the Old Testament to my life today. Thank you!
Hollie, Looking forward to my first learning experience with BSF and your video was an excellent foundation for the start of this study.
Thank you Hollie for such a well thought out lesson for the rest of us to understand why we must not stand stagnant but keep growing and building ourselves up in all ways to serve God’s purposes. Reading the bible is not as important as living it. I cannot thank you enough for the teaching and encouragement you have given us through your videos and lessons.
Thanks to Hollie for her latest video; love it, love all her videos! And, love the old song her Dad sang; all the old songs have messages and sermons within themselves. As we age, we start remembering the old songs because those are the songs we grew up with (or at least I did) looking forward to the Exile study and how we can learn how God interacted with His people and how He interacts with us today through His Word and Holy Spirit! How blessed we are to read, learn, pray and join our sisters in Christ to study together. Praying for all our leaders, and every and anyone who devote themselves to contributing in this study and to advancing the Kingdom of God. Blessings to all this study season!
Such a precious promise. So glad we are studying these books. Looking forward to reading the chapters and books. Thankful that BSF added this studyvv
Yes, bloom where we are planted …. Look for opportunities to be used by God; He often surprises us by inserting them into our day.
GOD bless you for this wonderful perspective. I too love “dads” song ❤️
I really enjoyed the video and all the valuable information that we’ve heard about earth is temporary and it’s not our home we all need to follow God’s word and live our lives as he wants us to to prepare for our permanent home with him
Thank you for the reminder. God Bless!
Very well said and so true !
There’s really nothing new under the sun.
The world really has not changed that much, MAN has not changed either, but with the Holy Spirit we were able to the New Creation living in our temporary world and knowing what we do here we resonate in eternity !
Thank you for your comments ..
Thank you very much Hollie for your presentation preparing us for this year’s Study. I now understand that wherever God places me I should seek to live according to the purpose for which God created me and remain faithful to God and seek to follow His commands and be prayerful irregardless of the circumstances I am in. I’m blessed and I look forward to this study.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hollie Roberts, what a beautiful and clear picture of our call as Christians here on planet Earth. I have often wrestled with why are we here if our home is in heaven….? This commentary helps me to better understand my place here and my duties. I so look forward to the BSF study beginning this week all over this world. I am encouraged that it will help myself and thousands of others PRESS ON FOR JESUS in this strangely uncomfortable place. GOD BLESS YOU….
Thank you for this important reading. God is telling us life now is not that much than before, we are to stay faithful in whatever circumstances we are in, Its temporarily. God keep His promise
Surrendered our Life to Him and seek His instructions and directions in this world is what we need to do. He has a plan to each one, choosing to do what we prefer to do, is the biggest mistake. Thank our Lord that He chose me to be one of His daughters, and He loves me to the utter most 🙏🙏
Thank you very much for preparing the study Exile and Return. I am prepared to live in this world in obedience to God’s purpose for me.
Thanks for the brief. Looking forward to this study. It promises a lot of truth of our Heavenly home. May our goal be there.
I appreciate the lessons received by reading, blogs and Bible studies. This is a great resource for me and I am sharing with anyone I can. Can I make a suggestion, or you probably have already. Would you have pamphlets or cards that we can purchase to give out? I want to tell everyone about you wonderful people!
I am getting a box ready with Bibles, my study books from BSF and I am in the process of writing the studies on the website in a binder to place in the box, for after the rapture so people will know what too do. Thank you for your Grace, lessons and love!
Dear Reba – you can find printable invitations here! https://bsfblog2025.onecreative.net/socialmedia/#printable
We are praying for you as you share BSF!!
Enjoyed your commentary on what to expect for this new season of BSF,
Looking forward to this study. Margie
Perfect for this moment in time. What a blessing. Thanks
Thank you for sharing this story and reminder. Praying for God to help us stay on course and protect our hearts.
Thank you ,Hollie! Looking forward to this years study!
What a beautiful video that we are thehand made of the lord and we pray we are made to be useful for His kingdom 🙏
Thank you Hollie. I’m looking forward to this study.
Thankyou Hollie! I look forward to this study. The word keeps me grounded.
Thank you very much Hollie
This message was an eye opener for me. I never compared the exile of Israelites with our current life. Now i understood. Thanks a lot.
Looking forward to the new year with my sisters in Christ and learning more of Moses law
Lord help me to build my life with purpose while I wait for my eternal home!
Thank you Hollie! I am looking forward to our Bible study class.
What a wonderful study this will be! So looking forward to a deeper study onto His word. Thank you, Hollie. May God continue to use you to enlighten and increase knowledge to many more.
Thank you so much for such a timely thoughtful message. You are blessed to have such a faith based clarity and with the ability to share a Biblical truth in a meaningful positive manner.
I love Hollie’s comments on the upcoming 2025-2026 study Exile & Return. I am looking forward to each lesson.
Beautiful and Inspiring!
We must build our lives with purpose knowing we are here in earth temporarily.
Thank you for the encouragement. I’m excited to get started. I love the Old Testament. We need to know God and His plan for us and for our good.
Thank you! Excited for thos years study!
I wasn’t very excited to do this study u til I heard and read this. Now I am extremely excited!! I with you made it so we could print out lectures like you printed this. There is no way to take notes in lectures. The speaker has only 30 minutes with at least an hours wonderful information. Please make it so we can print the lectures!!!!
Very good introduction!!
God wants to wait and see what He has for us no matter where we are. He has taught me to actively look out for the things He has done and is doing now. I find that doing that just makes my world so much brighter–even when the time seems grim. I look beyond the grim to God and the bad time seems oft so dim. He never stops, not then, not now.
Thanks for reminding us that God uses our obedience to build our lives
God’s instructions to us today are the same instructions He gave the Israelites them. Yes, we are to build our lives with purpose now. What an order and instruction. So help me God!!!
Comment我们在等待主再来时，要更努力寻求他，有目的的建造“过客”式的生活， *为天上永久的家做准备。为使自己居住的城市变得更美好而祷告，要生养众多…..
Translation: As we await the Lord’s return, we should seek Him more diligently, purposefully building our “transit” lives to prepare for our permanent home in heaven. Pray for a better city to inhabit, and be fruitful and multiply…
God’s instruction are clear . Looking forward to getting more insight
I shall pray to “stay put” as God shapes me .
This blog has certainly put into perspective how to live in this temporary home. To prosper and build ourselves, our families, and where we are living now, until we are in the new heaven and the new earth, because it is important when we reach our final home. This knowledge has, for me, answered all of my questions about life here on earth.
I try to be biblical thinker.it helps me to be in a weekly bj le study.
I am so excited and looking forward to this session on Exile and Return. Thank you, Hollis. God Bless.
Powerful, God-honoring message, Hollie! Thank you and thank the Lord!! Indeed, “Why build is a broken world?”
May we trust the Lord’s plan and follow His path, enable by His Spirit; to do the work He’s called us to do!
Thank you so much for this. It’s quite an eye opener and thought provoking. So grateful to see it from this perspective. God bless you.
Where He leads me, I will follow, I’ll go with Him all the way.
As we study God’s word to the children of Israel, may we see that we must also go through judgement, and difficult times. But if we seek Him, serve Him, and seek Him, He will lead us to our promised Home for eternity!
As the society around us continues to grow in the power of darkness we ,as Christians , relate more and more to the exiled Israel. We see people all around us bowing down to other gods, and even other Jesus’s. Thank you for this study, I look forward to gaining strength of Spirit through God’s Word for a time such as this.
May we be One in Spirit!
Thank you. I look forward to this Bible study.
Thank you for your comments. Your words helped build a bridge between Israel’s time in exile and our time here on earth. Even though we are not in exile God has told us in His word how we should be living. Thank you for bridging the gap between the people of the exile and our lives today.
Thank you Hollie for the awesome introduction for this year’s BSF course…and with all the differences we have with regards to cultural background, it’s wonderful to know how our Heavenly Father God is also going to lead us all home, in one direction, through Lord Jesus Christ, He is the Passover to the Promised Land and making Him the Lord of the Sabbath.Amazing!
amen!!
“How they lived in exile was going to matter when it was time to go home.” Thank you for these words and that thought specifically.
Indeed this is not our home, this is a reminder for me.
Thank you sister Hollie🙏❤️
Thank you for highlighting that thought for me, Mary. It is very meaningful.
Thank you, Hollie, for even a greater appreciation for God’s commandment to “ Love Thy Neighbor “. We
Must take that love to the neighborhood or as you stated our temporary community. Thanking Him for our
BSF community.
Thank you Hollie for your encouraging words and sharing the remembrance of your father. Add i remember the promises Good made me a i journey through my daily life here. In excited about this new season of bsf, learning and being at the lord feet just like Mary..
Is not 3 millennium had passed in 2025 after the exile happened?
I was a part of the study of Revelation last year and looking forward to this year’s study. I enjoyed the fellowship of our group snd learned a lot of new things in the studying and sharing each eachhvn
What a great message to start our study this year.Thanks Hollie I see God’s power to rebuild a great ,safe and prosperous life in every city in USA. When God transfered me to USA46 years ago my family and I were surching for safety in Glendale. It was safe and welcoming but not anymore. Blessings to you and your loved ones ❤️
I look forward to studying these books of the Bible this coming year to help me to understand God’s people and their challenges.
Yes, the world is truly broken , but God’s people are not broken. We do not mourn as those who have no hope because we are citizens in the kingdom of The Lord Jesus. This world I see more and more clearly is NOT my home, but I continue to PRAY for it. knowing we are God’s beloved helps us hope and endure Til the return of our savior.
Can’t wait for the new study!!
Really excited to start this study, She is so good and easy to follow.
Thank you Hollie for these encouraging words as we begin this new study. This world is not our home but while living in it do so with purpose. Make it better.
Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Very enlightening. I loved the memories of your Father. My Father use to sing that song in his baritone voice.
Thanks, Hollie!!
What a great way to think of how we live in the place we are living at this time.
May God bless you and Bible Study Fellowship. I’m looking forward to the Word of God that will help me to live in this time, waiting for heaven. .
Thank you Hollie. I am looking forward to this lesson. God bless you.
Hollie,
As I listened to your profound summation of the Israelites exile in comparison to our lives, it made me realize that I have never made it a practice to pray for all of the American businesses large and small. This message has encouraged me to pray often for American businesses as I pray for our nation. May we as believers prosper and increase where we are living are right now.
I loved the presentation, and most of all, the story of your memories of your father.
Soooo inspiring! I have seen this in our town of Reidsville NC. THIS IS EXACTLY HOW OUR LORD works if we obey! Looking forward to seeing this continue to work.
Hollie Roberts is such a gifted visionary. She is definitely where God wants her to be and we are all blessed by her. We are so very blessed as well for BSF. God has placed me and our family in New Bern for such a time as this as a leader and I am grateful for all. We pray daily for BSF. 🙏
Great and informative overview!
Thank you for this is encouraging to build my life with a purpose even in exile.
This will need lots and lots of perseverance, discipline, diligence, commitment, focus in Christ alone.
Knowing l am a stranger in this world. Beautiful reminder 🙏🏽
Thank you Hollie. Your words are encouraging and a challenging call to live with purpose according to God’s will, through obedience in a time that sometimes feels like a spiritual place of exile. We all need to take to heart the importance of living Godly lives and praying for our communities and our country. We can thrive in this broken world if we follow God’s way. Looking forward to learning from this study how to live with more purpose in our broken world knowing all the more our true home is our is ultimately what we look forward to one day.
I praise God for you and how He has equipped you to lead and teach us!
A beautiful reminder to pray for our home cities, and let the presence of the Lord saturate where we live. God has us here for His purpose.Thank you for this timely word.
Your message is encouraging and the goodness of the Lord our God is ever present then and now! Even in exile he is with his people. Amen!
Thank you Hollie for the guidance on some things to look for during this Exile/Return study. It was also a very helpful explanation of what is going on during the time period of the exile to Babylon and the return to Israel. I look forward to this study because it seems that it will be so applicable to what is going on in the world today. Thank you. May God continue to bless you to do the work that you are doing to bring Him glory, honor, and praise.
Thank you for the encouraging message great reminder we are passing through this world that is not our home
Thank you Holly additional studying on “Are You a Biblical thinker? You made bible become alive and real.
Thanks Hollie for sharing an encouraging word looking forward to my class.
Beautifully said! Yes, even though our lives here are temporary, we are to build with purpose while we are here, investing ourselves in God’s purposes!
Enjoyed this, :we are just passersby.”
Thank you! So looking forward to this year study as several of the books we will be studying are favorites of mine! Yay!
I needed to hear this video. I wasn’t excited about this years study but now I am. Everything you said was what I needed to hear! This is Not My Home but this is where and when God placed me! Thank you God for Hollie’s words to get me excited!
Very Encouraging, especially in today’s world as we all feel as if we are floundering…
I feel so encouraged. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing Amen!
So happy to finish the Bible Study with these last books not studied.
I know God will enable us to understand and be blessed with the words He has us hearing.
Blessings and Peace and we study these words.
Excellent video
Indeed so true
This works is not our home, but long as we live in it we may make it a better world.
“We live now as children of God, waiting for the new heavens and the new earth.”
I’d put it a little differently: Those of us who live now as servant-friends of Jesus, as He awaits us in heaven, look forward to spending eternity in His presence.
Very great and kind words of encouragement and faith building
Such a nice introduction ! It feels like “old home” as I was blessed to attend BSF back in 1985 for the entire 4 years ! I was a new Christian and it was ‘jam packed’ with amazing knowledge so new and encouraging, learning about our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit ! I can’t wait for this journey and getting to know the ladies and Peggy ! Back then, I heard that there would be another study added, I wondered if it would be Revelation- and when I met Jennie and found out indeed Revelation- I was only there for the last 3 lessons——but I hope to study here in Middleburgh Heights until I can study Revelation again !
Wonderful analogies of our place in this world as related to the Israelites in Babylon! Wow! This is an exciting prelude to our journey through the new study this year.
Thank you. This is a very encouraging message.
Wonderful to listen to this – I am so delighted to be going back into BSF this year! My husband has dementia but I will get away for a bit! The LORD is so good to me!
Thank you….looking forward to learning made as vaila Le to me and my husband.
Lois
Holly, thank you for the great ways to use and study God’s Words.
Very good!
This email encouraged me to begin this study.
Thank you so much. Very encouraging for me.
Thank you I enjoyed reading it and learning
This is very insightful to know that we are also like the exiles and this is not our permanent home. Sometimes we forget and live as if we will never depart. We cannot afford to be careless in our lives but we should live with purpose knowing we shall one day be called to account for our deeds here on earth. Thank you for the insight. Looking forward to the study.
What an encouraging message from Hollie …may God continue to use you in BSF as we look forward to stretch to the end of the world
Thank you Hollie, what an excellent summary of the “Exile & Return” study and on how to relate it to how we should be living our lives as Christians in today’s world.
Wonderfully presented, articulate video!!!! Thank you!!
Thank you Hollie, this is very encourage to me why I‘m move in here ? I‘ve been puzzle why ? Now I got it. thank you so much.
Thank you, Hollie. Appreciate your encouragement through the BSF transcript which started w the words from the song, This World is not Our Home. Looking forward to this year’s study.
Thank you Hollie,for reminder this world is not my home.I need to live with a purpose as I wait to go heavenly home.Looking forward to this year’s study.
Thank you Hollie additional studying on “Are You a Biblical thinker? You made bible become alive and real.
I’ve recently moved to a new city and I’m looking for my purpose here! Can’t wait for God to lead me through this study and help me to find it in my new environment. Thanks for sharing your purpose with us!
Lovely message!
That is a song that I have often sung in my head. 🎶🎶🎶
And, the truth is comforting.
Very appropriate study for the time we live in, great guidance from God’s Word. Thank you for the great introduction, can not wait for this.
❤️❤️
This has encouraged me to keep on praying for my city and the leaders in our city and state, to keep on praying for and interacting with neighbors who are choosing to live in darkness, and to say daily, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” We are near the end of our sojourn here. Look forward to heaven!
Thank you Hollie ,for sure this world us not our home .looking forward for the bsf next week .
“To live with purpose everyday”, Amen!
Very good ! I like the way you compare our lives to those of the Israelites.
Amen!
Beautifully spoken, deeply rich, perfectly timed with 24/7 Prayer Week.
Thank you for straightening up my often wayward thought life.
Putting focus in our future home is exciting and rewarding hope of our salvation through Jesus Christ!!
I am excited about this new study. Can’t wait to get going. Anytime is a good time with God.
Thank you Hollie for the comprehensive introduction and theme for the 2025 study and call to build in the cities in which we live while always being obedient to God and looking upwards and forwards to our eternal home
Thank you for the lovely intro. As we (try to) live through today’s wilderness, that presents as utter chaos, I am so grateful for the reminder that we are only “passing through” and the instruction to live with purpose. I am looking forward to this year’s study!!❤️
This was a great way to get focused on God.
Thank God, for our heavenly home He has for His children.
This world is NOT our home, and we praise God for His blessings, mercy and grace as He prepares us for our permanent home.
❤️
To love God be billion be obedient to his word, lived the life to the best of my ability
Thank you for offering this in a way that I can listen to it and also follow it in written form. This is extremely helpful with my dyslexia.
Excellent introduction. I’m excited already
I am so convicted by the Exile Introduction. My attitude has been very negative about my city. I should know that as a believer and a follower of Jesus my attention would need to be on what God wants me do/be while living in this world/city. My focus is realigned and I am eager and excited to change and grow for God’s Glory and the good of people.
Thank you Hollie. This is great encouragement as I continue my earthly journey looking up towards the heavens waiting for His return. I pray that I continue to live my life with purpose that promotes, supports, and expands His kingdom. Excited for our new study!
Great job on this article for preparing us for Bible study.
What a wonderful introduction to this year’s BSF Study “Exile and Return”! Reminding us that this is not our home, but God has purpose for us to live here for a time and to share with others God’s love for us and His purpose for our presence here for such a time as this. Looking forward to this year’s study!!
My favorite song. Yes this world is temporary.
Loved your Dad’s song and so glad we’re just passing through.
Excellent message to prepare for beginning this years study
Thank you Hollie. Wonderful presentation on how we are to live as we wait for the home we have in Heaven for eternity.
Bryan
Thank you Hollie for such a powerful intro into our biblical studies. I am looking forward to digging deeper into our lessons this year. This is just my temporary home.
Thank you for this message. I appreciate your willingness to share your gifts. God bless you
Amazing introduction. Thank you so much for getting us ready for the study. I can’t wait to get back into BSF studies. Always a great time of growth for me.
Thank you Hollie! Looking forward to what God will do through this study.
To God be the Glory!
What a timely message to remind us how we should live I the United States in 2025!!
I am thankful for BSF. Looking forward to this study and the tools and encouragement to know God and His Word.
Great introduction, this world is not our home, we are making preparations for our heavenly home! Can’t wait to started this year’s amazing lessons!
This has been a blessing this morning. May God continue to bless his children and this world as we pray for guidance.
Eudora in Toronto
Thank you for the introduction. I’m very excited for BSF this year! It’s so educational and I can’t wait to go to the place that Jesus has prepared for us!! This world is for us to disciple to others to know Jesus Christ and accept Him and believe in Him in their hearts so they can go to heaven! Amen. 🙏❤️✝️
Looking forward to studying God’s word with my sisters.
Wow, that was very enlightening-as we go on in our lives we prepare ourselves for many things; preparing for college that first job preparing ourselves for marriage, preparing ourselves for family preparing ourselves our many tasks for the day. We need to focus ourselves to be preparing ourselves to met Jesus !! It is of the utmost importance This preparation needs to be first in our lives. Thank you for this introduction!
Very good video. I can’t wait to get back into BSF. I am a graduate of this program and I highly recommend BSF
It’s not my home. Great msg. I need to share with other.
I am so excited! Looking forward to the lesson from the Living and Enduring Word 🙏
Wonderful introduction, can’t wait to find out what God will reveal to me during this study
I enjoyed the overview. I look forward to the new chapter.
A great reminder to be specific in my prayers for the CITY I. Live in. Thank you
Thank You Forv The Blessful Word and Message Of Purpose
Thank you! I am looking forward to my fifteenth year of BSF here in Niagara, Canada!
God bless all who make this possible!
Such wisdom in what you shared!! This will be my first BSF class and at 71 I am even more excited to learn about how to live more effectively for Him!
Disobedience removes us from the cover/ shadow of the almighty; result is hardship and suffering; but while in hardship, repentance will restore our position in God : May God help us not to draft away from his cover.
Thank you for this amazing introduction to our study this year! I a.m Excited for our lesso.n To begin! May our Lord spk to my heart and to all of our friends studying g with us, Our God is so good to give us this lesson to study now.
Wow! Thank you for that brief it is quite enlightening and whets my appetite for the study ahead. Indeed maintaining the right perspective, this world is temporary and there is a better home to look forward to makes all the difference. A purposeful life aligned with Gods purpose and will is the desire of my heart.
Thank you so much!
Thank you Holly for such a powerful word . I will live with purpose and pray for peace and prosperity of this country instead of complaining and murmuring. Knowing I will be t we tuning home my new Jerusalem
Amen and Amen to this word. Very powerful and inspiring.
BUILDING MY LIFE WITH PURPOSE WHILE I WAIT. Oh my God!
Great message and inspiring. Looking forward to BSF this year. Praying for more people to join BSF and to know Jesus Christ as our savior.
This video is a good reminder for us all. Thank you.
Great message and thank you for the opening of the lesson. Looking forward to grow spiritually through BSF!
That is my song too. The more we live in this world, I’m excited to see heaven as my home.
Praise the Lord for you. It is inspiring to hear and listen to your views and
perspectives about this year’s studies. May you be more than what you can be as the Holy Spirit enables you and may the same Spirit hold us faithful in studying His word.
Praying for more people to get to know the Lord through BSF so that Jesus will be glorified more as more souls are harvested for His glory.
Taking this opportunity, please pray peace and economic stabilization for my country, and for God’s covering for all my children, god children, relatives, friends and many others asking to be prayed for.
May God bless us.
Liz from Makati City
The Philippines
Great perspective on how this world is not our home, we are just passersby and so we must live with a purpose
Belonging to a church and joining as many programs that help the community as possible.
Wherever we move, we choose God to show us the way
Excellent introduction. Thank you. I wasn’t looking forward to this study as I want to be in the NT. But there are things we go through here which seem to have little purpose but it’s good to know we need to just be keeping on with where we are and be His people in the process.
I’m looking forward to these studies.
May the Lord continue to inspire those who prepare these lessons
Encouraging words!
Awesome summary of the study we will work thru for about 9 months. I am looking forward to the challenges set out before each of us.
So looking forward to our study! May are Lord Jesus speak to each one of us.Blessings!
Thank you enjoyed reading the very meaningful message
Hollie, thank you for your video. You have given us a lot to think about! I’m looking forward to another incredible Bible study to begin! Jackie, Lafayette, CO
While waiting temporarily on earth I thank God for the Holy Spirit He put in me to help me build up my life with purpose
What an amazing word for us (me)in the times we’re living in.
We have purpose ….
we move forward with purpose
Loved the word of God.🙌. God is still in control.
Hollie thank you for the introduction. You let me know what to expect from the Israelites being in Exile. Pray for where you are that you will have an impact. Yes this is world is not out we are just travelers passing through.
Well presented
I really enjoyed This message. Thank You 🙏🏾
What an amazing message, Holly. Thank you. So much of the history of the Israelites resonates with Christian’s today. Looking forward to this study. God Bless! As a class leader, we will be praying for you, our area team, and headquarters. Have an amazing year!
Perfect opener for our study, Thanks Hollie!
Dear Hollie,
Thank you for this clear reminder of our purpose as God planned for us.
This hit me solidly between the eyes after all these years. This is the answer.
I am fairly new to BSF, so to find the answer to my question so many years on is amazing.
This has been a ‘battle within’ for decades on arriving in a foreign country as a young child. I still feel the same decades on.
I questioned often why I never felt at home in this new land. I was often told growing up that I behaved as if I was passing through.
I tried several times to leave this country, but somehow, my plans always got rerouted/derailed.
I continued to live in this foreign and brought up a family had careers which have now been shelved on retirement.
On the first day of a new year in BSF study, I got the answer I needed to stop wondering and be still. It’s never too late.
Thank you and bless you.
* I usually do not write comments, but this was so vivid a moment, I gave in.
Veronica, thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts questions and experiences. I’m so glad you commented today even though you don’t usually comment. What you said truly spoke to me and encouraged me to live with purpose. I am glad you got the answer you were searching for for so long. Little did you know, your answer also blessed the rest of us!
This world is not my home is even my husbands favourite too. God must give the decrement so that no one can deceive us is my prayers
While we wait for our home Jesus is preparing for us, we must build with purpose as we live now.
A very inspiring message!!! Thank you.
I’m looking forward to Exile and return.
Good word
Hollie, Thank you for the message of what Exile & Return means for us now and how I can apply it to my life now as we start our study. Praying for BSF as our leaders all begin tomorrow.
I really enjoyed the video; looking forward to learning more; thanks alot
Hollie I enjoyed the video and it just ignited my heart for the session that begins on September 10th in Cleveland, Tennessee. I’m joining BSF for the first time and looking forward to the Bible study! This world is not my home either. I’m just passing through. But, while I’m here, I will build my life with purpose following after God and His plan for my life.
Thank you!
Thank you for this overview of our study. It’s really a help to have a glimpse of the lessons.
I look forward to the study.
Thank you. While I wait I will pray and be at ease.
Hollie’s encouragement is so wonderful to help me start the study this year.
Thank you Hollie. I’m posting this to some of my family and friends so they can see what a great blessing BSF can be to them.;
Thank you, Hollie, for a new perspective on “the world”.
Thank you ..so relevant to us as we live in our broken world,
Timely and encouraging…
Satisfying my soul.
Such a thorough overview of our reality in this temporary “exile” from our true heavenly home. Thank you.
Thank you Lord for your timing. Ready to discover His purpose for my life.
Build with purpose was one of the most powerful things I heard! We so often go through life just floating along. How different would our lives be if we did everything with purpose?
Beautiful entry to our lesson….
Thank you for continuing to be faithful to teach Gods Word. I taught BSF for 28 years under Miss J, in Southern California. I continue to teach the Word and it delights my soul and life and Has been a strong hold in my family.
After my husband went home to be with the Lord, I moved to Huntington Beach and joined the day class here. And looking forward to studying the Prophets this year here in HB. I am eternally grateful for BSF and am still encouraging others to join this unique study. Blessing! Ruth Larson
Amen and thank you
Excellent thank you
Thank you for this message. Looking forward to this year study. I’m the CLAY…..
Yes, I am ready for this years lessons . thankyou for this message.
Thank you for these helpful comments on our up-coming study. I’m looking forward to it!
Yes, we will build our lives with PURPOSE. thankyou for this message.
This should be an interesting year… looking forward to it
Thanks for your comments.
Thank you ,the message blessed my heart.looking forward to the study
Thanks for your comments in this broken world.
Bloom where you are planted.
The message,”Why Build in a Broken World,” was very edifying. Thank you!
Live each day to the maximum for God and good for his glory. There is a wonderful future to live forward to in the new Heaven and earth with God is and Jesus when we will be resurrected
thank you for your encouraging words
The present is so much like the past.
What a Mighty God we serve!
I’m so thankful for this message. I so frequently, in the past 20yrs really, respond to my friends’ question, “how are you doing?” with “I’m struggling.” Perhaps it’s over exactly this issue. If God created me and loves me, but has put me in this world and said it’s not my home… what am I doing here? What’s the meaning of this temporary life?
The song quoted is one that was my uncle’s favorite, and a recording of him singing it with his brothers and sisters was played at his celebration of life service. I get glimpses of the peace, joy, and love we’re meant to be about, and brief understandings of the work we’re meant to do (messages that spur me on to do the work) – I need MORE reminders! I’m so thrilled to be starting into this study!
I am excited about the opportunity to study Exile & Return A Time to Build. And I am thankful for BSF. It has been a blessing for me.
Loved this video! It was such an encouragement to me, that while we are sojourners, we are to live in harmony with those around us. Always remembering we are set apart, and we should pray for those around us. Thank you.
Yes. So grateful God gave us believers in our Church and community that help us in growing our faith and love for Jesus.
I am excited about the opportunity to study Exile & Return A Time to Build. And I am thankful for BSF. It has been a blessing for me.
Thank you for encouraging words for this year’s study.
Ditto me on your comment! What a blessing it is to know we are sojourners here, and we are never alone in God’s plan for us!
Thanks, I enjoyed it and look forward to learning more.
,Hollie, I have been in BSF for many years. I am looking forward to the study this year. There is so much for us in the Old Testament. Your message whets our appetite for more! Thank you for your dedication to our God and to BSF
Very good
Very inspiring and thank you for words to start. I’m so excited!
So encouraging and I can’t wait to start the study!
I listened with hope and I listened as I felt so encouraged. Thank you so much! Thank you for being a vessel that God can use.
First time doing BSF. So excited!
Excited to start this study
Thank you Hollie!
Building and living our lives for His purposes!
❤️
Excellent I am ready to dive in !
When I stared to read and listen the state of our world came to mind , we need to pray more than ever.
Looking forward to the study.
This is my second year of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) It continues to be a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth. Drawing from Jeremiah 29, BSF invites believers to reflect on how to live purposefully even in seasons of exile or uncertainty. The message is clear: though this world may not be our permanent home, we are called to build, bless, and pray for the places where God has planted us.
This study also seems tailor-made for those who want to live with intentionality. Whether through family, work, or worship, BSF encourages believers to build lives that reflect God’s presence, even in brokenness. That’s a theme you’ve explored in your worship writing and structured spiritual practices—finding beauty and purpose in the midst of impermanence.
I am looking forward to the study of Return to Exile. I am also excited to be a part of the BSF group.
I loved it. Thank you
Very good to hear!
When I stared to read and listen the state of our world came to mind , we need to pray more than ever.
Looking forward to the study.
Inspiring ✨
May God help me to live my life with a purpose while I wait for the home Jesus is preparing for me.
Thank Hollie 🙏🏽❤️ I’m looking forward to the word of God. And study the word of God with other BSF
Ladies.
I am looking forward to the series. So much to learn and be grateful for!
I want to be that light that shine and do what God has put me here to do. Make use of my purpose. Amen🙏
Praise the Lord.
This has made me expectant for greater understanding of the WORD.
Thank You.
God bless you.
🙂🙏🏻
I want to be a moon! To reflect the light of the Son to a dark and needy world.
God is keep us hear from him glory❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you…Loved it. Cant wait for study…
Truly world is not our home and may God help me to build my life with purpose in Jesus name amen
Thank you, Hollie, for the clarity of our purpose here on earth, just like how the Israelites were exiled to a strange land, with clear instructions provided by the Lord Himself. The study of Exile and Return is truly apt for a time like now.
Pray change the circumstance and situation will change if you pray and believe it
As I was listening to Hollie talking about the Israelites that were in exile, she said they were told to ” Pray for the city. Because when it prospers, you also will prosper. In other words, make the cities where you live better because you live there. ” I live in the USA and we should take these words to heart and pray for our cities and cities that are in war zones, areas of famine and abuse around the world. I’m not in exile, I’m free to Pray to God for others that are taken without their permission to other cities. May God Bless you and Surround you and your City with Love. May you and your city Prosper!!!
Amen
The story of Israelite’s exile and return narrated in Hollie message gives us a picture of how much God cares for His people and how he want us to live while on this earth, await Christ return and not to live as the world lives.
God is faithful and will always keep His promises, He fulfilled His promise to bring the Israelite’s home and that is our hope as a believer to return home to live eternally with Christ . Thank you Hollie. This message has been very helpful and I really love it
I am ready to learn and grow in the word. Grateful! This is my 2nd lesson with BSF
This was an awesome “message”! Amen, Amen, Amen! Hollie IS a dynamic speaker and you definitely CAN tell that she is anointed and a servant of God!
Thanks for sharing because I truly enjoyed EVERY Word! I can’t hardly wait for this year’s BSF. I know it’s going to be Mmm! Mmm! Good!
Thank you for the helpful video. Looking forward to our study next week as we begin to unpack what it was like for God’s people in exile. I’ve had that feeling as well that this is not my home this world. I’m just passing through because I know that God’s children belong with Him.
I’m very excited about this study. I am also happy about returning to my on-line group.
I am looking forward to studying more in-depth in God’s word. I want to see what God has in store for me in the coming season.
Thank you Hollie! So excited to be studying the Old Testament and to gain knowledge and wisdom from the teaching, and group discussions! I’m looking forward to God’s great plan of redemption unfolding as He points the way to Jesus through the prophets and people that were obedient to His calling!
Thank you so much for your good sharing.May God bless BSF ministry.
We are meant to live here, today, with a purpose, oh so true, thank you!
I truly believe it is God‘s timing for this year‘s study. And a perfect follow up to last year’s study of Revelations. It will continue to teach us to remain through my Lord and Savior. No matter what we face. No matter how difficult things become.
Well done Hollie Roberts.What great challenge this year’s study is going to be . May I indeed live with greater purpose for Jesus Christ, amen.
What great challenge this year’s study is going to be . May I indeed live with greater purpose for Jesus Christ, amen.
I’m so excited for this study!
I am excited for this study. This will be my 3rd study with BSF and I have learned so much over that time and grown/matured in my walk with the Lord.
I have not received anything from my group leader yet, should I be concerned?
I am so excited for this season knowing I’m going to go deeper in the things of God. I’m ready….
This is my first bsf…
I want to represent my savior will in this world
Agree! Bloom where we are planted and do it well.
Thank you for this powerful message. It’s good to know we have an eternal home awaiting us!
May God Bless & keep you!👏👏👏🥰
The diaspora was a national catastrophe that it does us well to consider as we see our present civilization in its death throes; The Lord still has purpose for us in the midst of the darkness, and that should encourage us.
I believe from the Jewish Bible which I learned that I live in this grace age and the gospel of grace by Apostle Paul is the mystery reveled for salvation by faith in the finished work of Christ our Lord in the cross and the Holy Spirit is the guiding source in our life.
I love it. Very inspiring
Our lord jesus died for us to be saved
Hollie,
I enjoyed your perspective on this book. It gave me a great insight and understanding on the character attributes God was encouraging the Israelites on how to live and also how I am to live. Thank you!
Prayers as we all prepare to.meet our Lord soon.. In the mean time May we Represent Him well out here. Thank you.
Looking forward for this great experience in Bible study fellowship
Hollie, Thank you for the insightful and inspirational introduction to our BSF study for this year.
This is my 10th or 11th years in BSF I love learning what God wants for my life and how He gave us His son Jesus the saviour of the whole world, thank you God for Jesus 🙏
Thank you for explaining the study of BSF about the Exile. Looking forward to the Study.
Tgank you. I am n looking forward to t h is year’s study. I realize that god is saying the same thing to us here in this time. As He said in Rom 12: live here in this world but don’t act like the world . Marry , have children. Be the light here on earth so we reach out to the lost. Occupy , serve, until he calls us home.
Yes, I am excited about this study.
God bless you Holli
This is my first study with BSF and I’m so excited. I believe the timing and subject matter is definitely of the Lord. This world is not a place we should be comfortable living in anymore.
I am praying for a good year of study.
Hello
My first BSF very excited to start… We need God’s light more and more … God is present always. I want to know more… God Bless
Wow so good Hollie. I love your Godly thinking. Looking forward to starting the Bible Study again very soon.
I’m so excited for this new study ! What a beautiful reminder , this home isn’t our home we’re just passing through. Thank you so much🙏🏾